Homemade taco seasoning is such a versatile seasoning, perfect for tacos, nachos and so much more! Plus, it’s easy to make from scratch with a few pantry staples that you’ll never use store-bought again.
This is such a handy trick to have up your sleeve! Whether you want to avoid sketchy mystery ingredients, or if you forgot to get a taco seasoning pack from the store, this is the DIY taco mix for you! And honestly, it just tastes WAY better.
We use this to make taco meat for our ground beef tacos. One serving of this homemade taco seasoning is perfect to season a pound of ground beef (or any meat used for tacos, nachos, fajitas). You can use it in any recipe that calls for a packet of taco seasoning.
I love that it is made with five simple spices that I always keep on hand anyway, plus some salt and pepper.
Homemade Taco Seasoning Ingredients
To make this homemade taco seasoning recipe, you will need the following seasonings:
- cumin
- chili powder
- garlic powder
- paprika
- oregano
- salt and pepper
Tools Used to make this recipe
This post may contain affiliate links, which pay a referral fee to me at no additional cost to you. My full affiliate disclosure can be seen here.
- Measuring spoons – I have these magnetized ones, and they are fantastic!
- Mason jar with lid or other storage container
- Small bowl and spoon or whisk
- On the nails – Zoya Kaitlyn (optional😉 – I get asked about nail polish colors a lot)
How to make taco seasoning
Just mix everything together, right there in the bowl.
If you want to make a big batch, I recommend bumping up the serving size to 4 on the recipe card below. This will make 1 cup of seasoning, and you just measure out 1/4 cup when you are ready to use it. I don’t recommend making much more than that, unless you plan to use it pretty quickly (since there are no preservatives or anti-clumping additives, like the store brand mixes may contain).
Did you know you could do that? Yep, it’s a handy little trick on my site. I always publish in suggested batch size/ serving size, but you can move the needle to right-size the recipe just for you.🙌🏻
When I get ready to use it in meat, I brown the meat and drain it first. Then I add water plus the seasoning blend, and stir to combine. Then I simmer it until most of the liquid evaporates. It is SO delicious and easy. I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Side note: stay tuned for an epic beef nacho supreme recipe later in the week. I used this seasoning blend to make it too.✅
Why it makes sense to make your own taco seasoning
Simply put, it just tastes better, y’all. Seriously, it does make a difference.
Also, it can be cheaper than store-bought packets depending on where you get your spices.
Also, customization y’all. You control what goes in there. For example, watching your salt intake? No problem, dial it back. Want a milder blend? Back down on the black pepper.
Other ways to use this taco seasoning recipe
I have used this blend in som many other recipes! Use it in any recipes that call for a packet of taco seasoning. Here are some examples:
- Vegan taco soup
- Taco soup with beef
- Beef tacos
- Taco bowls
- Epic beef nachos supreme
- Beef enchiladas
- Easy chicken fajitas
FAQs
Store in a dry, air tight container such as a mason jar.
As long as it keeps dry, it would last for 2 to 3 months. After that, it will still be fine to use. It just may start to wane in flavor a little bit. That is why I do not recommend making any more than 4 packet equivalents.
This recipe makes a one pack equivalent serving, and it will season a pound of ground beef.
Taco seasoning and fajita seasoning contain a lot of the same ingredients. Taco seasoning tends to go a bit heavier on the chili powder. That being said, I have used my taco seasoning for chicken fajitas, and we loved it!
Your choice, but yes. I prefer to drain mine.
Did you try this recipe?
Give it a star rating. Pin it and share it if it looks good to you. And be sure and stay connected on social media!
Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook | YouTube | Twitter
Homemade Taco Seasoning (DIY, Made from Scratch)
Homemade taco seasoning is such a versatile seasoning, perfect for tacos, nachos and so much more! Plus, it’s easy to make from scratch with a few pantry staples. Cumin, chili powder, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt and pepper.
Ingredients
Single Serving (used on pound of beef/ meat)
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
To make the seasoning blend
-
Measure out all ingredients into a bowl, and stir together until well-combined.
Instructions for Taco Ground Beef
-
Brown the meat, and drain.
-
Return the meat to the pan, and sprinkle the seasoning on top, along with 3/4 cup water.
-
Stir to combine, and bring to a simmer.
-
Reduce heat, and simmer on low until the liquid evaporates, about 7 minutes.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
If you want to make a big batch, I recommend bumping up the serving size to 4 on the recipe card under “servings.” This will make 1 cup of seasoning, and you just measure out 1/4 cup when you are ready to use it. I don’t recommend making much more than that, unless you plan to use it pretty quickly (since there are no preservatives or anti-clumping additives, like the store brand mixes may contain).
Jean Auber says
Robert Williamson — Thank you. You made several good points!
Kathleen says
Thank you for sharing this great recipe! I’ll never buy this seasoning again !
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
I am glad you enjoyed it🙌🏻
B says
Your site has way to many ads, cut back on all the dam ads. I understand running a site isn’t free but you got affiliate links and ads everywhere. It’s annoying and makes me not want to visit the site again. I counted 13 ads on this 1 recipe 13, 3 would suffice. So I give a 1 star because all the useless ads.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Thank you for the feedback. I do offer a paid subscription. If you pay a monthly fee, you can get the recipes in your inbox without ads. Nobody has taken me up on it yet. 😉 Annoying as ads can be, it seems that millions of users see the value proposition highly in their favor to use the site as is. Crazy, right?🤷🏼♀️ Let me know if you want to pay, though.
Jennifer says
Hi,
Quick question:
So…
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
… are the ingredients for six servings?
I’ve made this before and loved it, but now I don’t remember how much I made. I was looking to make a big batch and read to bump it up to 4, but the default setting is at 6. Decreasing it to 4 seems too little for a big batch, no? Thank you!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Hi Jennifer! The measurements are for (around) 1 pound of beef, give or take a few ounces.
Ricardo Torres says
I didn’t really get you question but this seasoning tecipe is for one pound of beef. If you want to make a big batch of the recipe just measure the first one and check how much is in volume, after that just mix as many times the same recipe as you wish and place it in a glass container. After that you just scoop as you need.
Victor says
We get nachos bell grande every Thursday night. And I’ve kinda gotten on a cooking thing recently so Ive been looking at recipes. I made nachos using rotel and Velveta mixed for the cheese and ground beef mixed with Mrs dash Taco packets. Ok and mild sauce packets from the fridge.
This recipe sounds perfect but is vary similar to the Mrs Dash packet. On my next attempt, I’m gonna try Mrs Dask Southwest seasoning and add a thicker (corn starch) oddly enough it would not let me put in over 4 stars
Robert Williamson says
You may be interested to know that you are essentially making chili powder with cumin, oregano and salt. The chili powder in your recipe is (almost) redundant, because it is really just a brand-specific variation of garlic, onion, black pepper and paprika!
So, I suggest making a large batch of homemade chili powder instead. I use granulated garlic and onion rather than powder (anti clumping as an alternative to silicon dioxide – which is utterly harmless microscopic quartz, found naturally in most vegetables, but hard to buy outside of a mass-market spice mix).
Paprika is a variable because…it varies. My ratio is 1 part each of granulated garlic, onion, and a fairly coarse ground black pepper (“restaurant grind”), and 2 parts paprika, but tune it to your preference and your supply of paprika. Once you find “your” mix, go big. I buy bulk spices and mix it a quart at a time. It disappears in a few weeks!
When you want tex-mex, add cumin and oregano just like you did above (and maybe a little cayenne ;). Greek? Oregano. Italian? Basil and oregano. Salt separately if you want (I usually skip it entirely). A spice rub? Try adding sage and chipotle powder. The chili powder mix works as a base for a surprising number of store-bought spice mixes, avoiding _all_ mix mystery and unremovable salt, and cutting cost by up to a factor of 4. In my recipe app, I call it “Don’t Ever Buy Chili Powder!”
Steve says
How does garlic, onion, black pepper and paprika in any way represent chilli powder? I live in Thailand and can definitely assure you that real chilli powder is ground dried red chillies and nothing else.
Jessica says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! Was absolutely delicious!! Very easy to make, and was so great!!! If anyone is reading this wondering if they should try it out, stop reading This and make it now!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
That is such great feedback, Jessica. Thank you!💖
Hilary says
We are a big Texmex family and we haven’t bought a seasoning pack since trying this recipe. I absolutely love it.
We do half the salt and double the cumin (because I’m obsessed with the taste lol)
If anyone is feeling on the fence about switching out their packet for this – don’t be! You won’t regret it.
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
That is so great to hear! Thank you for letting me know, and for taking the time to leave a rating.💖🙌🏻
Blockchain ideas says
Looks so yummy!
Marjorie @APinchOfHealthy says
Thank you! I cannot remember the last time I bought a taco seasoning packet. Enjoy!
Christy says
I will never buy a taco packet again. This is so delicious! And we use it for so many different Tex Mex dishes – tacos, nachos, fajitas, etc. Thanks for the great recipe!